Archive for the ‘Television Academy’ Category

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Hall of Fame Committee has selected actor/director/producer Ron Howard, sportscaster Al Michaels, executive Leslie Moonves, journalist Bob Schieffer, and producer Dick Wolf as the newest inductees into the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame. Inventor Philo T. Farnsworth will also be inducted posthumously. The group will be honored at the 22nd Annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 11, 2013.

Additionally, this year’s Hall of Fame will benefit the Archive of American Television! As Jerry Petry, Chairman of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation (parent organization of the Archive ) stated, “Each of this year’s honorees has had their achievements and personal stories chronicled in our Archive, and we can’t think of a better way to honor them than to perpetuate the good work of the Foundation.”

As Petry alluded, the Archive of American Television has conducted interviews with all but one of the new honorees – Philo T. Farnsworth passed away before the Archive’s inception, but we did interview his wife, Elma “Pem” Farnsworth. Below enjoy selections from Archive interviews with or touting this year’s Hall of Fame inductees:

Sheila Nevins for Outstanding Children’s Nonfiction, Reality or Reality-Competition Program (The Weight of the Nation for Kids), Outstanding Nonfiction Series (The Weight of the Nation), Outstanding Nonfiction Special (Bobby Fischer Against The World, Gloria: In her Own Words), Exceptional Merit In Documentary Filmmaking (Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory)

Hector Ramirez for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Series (Dancing With The Stars), Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special (54th Annual Grammy Awards,Kennedy Center Honors)

The Archive of American Television has conducted interviews with several of the new honorees, and with many of their colleagues. Below enjoy selections from Archive interviews with or touting this year’s Hall of Fame inductees:

Congratulations to all of the honorees!

More from our Featured Story on the 21st Annual Hall of Fame Inductees.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Hall of Fame Committee has selected performers Vivian Vance and Bill Frawley, executive Michael Eisner, show creator-producer Chuck Lorre, executive producers Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray, actor Sherman Hemsley, host Mario Kreutzberger (aka Don Francisco), and lighting director Bill Klages as the newest inductees into the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame. The group will be honored at the 21st Annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony held at The Beverly Hills Hotel on March 1st, 2012.

“The group of inductees for this year’s Hall of Fame has had a remarkable impact in all areas of the television industry, from performers and hosts to producers and executives,” said Mark Itkin, chair of the Hall of Fame selection committee. “It is a tremendous privilege to chair this committee and be able to honor this group with the recognition that they so greatly deserve.”

The Archive of American Television has conducted interviews with several of the new honorees, and with many of their colleagues. Below enjoy selections from Archive interviews with or touting this year’s Hall of Fame inductees:

I Love Lucy actress Doris Singleton and director William Asher on Vivian Vance and William Frawley:

Michael Eisner on how television has changed and where it’s headed:

Melissa McCarthy on how Chuck Lorre fought for her to play “Molly” on Mike and Molly:

Tom Freston on the creation of Bunim/Murray’s The Real World:

Sherman Hemsley on developing his famous character, “George Jefferson:”

Mario Kreutzberger aka Don Francisco on hosting Sabado Gigante:

Bill Klages on directing the lighting for JFK’s inaugural gala:

More from our Featured Story on the 21st Annual Hall of Fame Inductees.

Congratulations to Carl Reiner, who will be honored by The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in North Hollywood this evening! Panelists paying tribute to the television legend include Mel Brooks, Jon Cryer, Ann Morgan Guilbert, Bonnie Hunt, Rose Marie, Larry Matthews, Bill Persky, Rob Reiner, Paul Reiser, Eva Marie Saint, Garry Shandling, and Dick Van Dyke. The event is sold out, but you can watch the live webcast at 7:30pm PST at emmys.com.

Reiner’s career in television began in the 1940s with appearances on The Fashion Story and The Fifty-fourth Street Review, and continues today with a recurring role on Hot in Cleveland. He’s won multiple Emmys, and in his Archive Interview, Reiner shares a fun fact about how his then-rules for wearing his toupee complicated his first Emmy win for The Dick Van Dyke Show:

“I didn’t wear my hair because if I had worn my hair and sat in the audience, it would be suggesting that I think I’m gonna win. I remember saying, ’should I put my hair on?’ Because my rule of thumb is if it’s national … local shows I never wore it. If I went on an interview show I never wore my hair during the day … If it’s a national show, I’ll wear it. But I decided that night, I said, ‘honey, if I put my rug on, people are gonna think I think I’m gonna win.’ So I said, ‘I’m gonna not wear it. If I win, I’ll go up there.’

In his acceptance speech, Reiner earned a huge laugh with the line, “If I’d known I was going to win, I would have worn my hair.”

Alan Armer, who won an Emmy Award as the producer of the classic adventure series The Fugitive, has died at the age of 88. Armer served as the President of the Hollywood Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in the early 1970s and began his career at local L.A. TV’s KNBH (KNBC) in the 1950s.

Alan Armer talked about his early years growing up during the Great Depression. He spoke about his studies in speech and drama and his practical experience as an announcer in radio, and acknowledged winning a World’s Fastest Talker contest, while a teenager, speaking 617 words in 57 seconds. He described his years in local television in Los Angeles at KNBH (now KNBC) where he worked in many capacities and developed the series Lights, Camera, Action, a showcase for new young acting talent. He chronicled his work as a producer at 20th Century Fox in series television, where he produced My Friend Flicka and Broken Arrow. With Broken Arrow’s production falling during the era of the Hollywood Blacklist, Armer revealed that the series’ original writers could not be hired, rejected by the sponsor (but that he later employed them on The Fugitive). He spoke in great detail about his association as executive producer with the classic crime series The Untouchables. For this series, he commented on: the controversy that arose due to the show’s portrayal of Italian-Americans, the necessity to tone down the show’s depiction of violence, and Robert Stack’s performance as Eliot Ness. He then talked about his work with Quinn Martin on the series The Fugitive. For The Fugitive, he gave his impressions of the cast, commented on the series highly-rated finale, and noted the series’ Emmy win for Best Drama Series. He also touched on later Quinn Martin-produced series The Invaders and Cannon. Lastly, he talked about serving as President of the Hollywood Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in the early 1970s, and the increase in membership and creation of the Film Group screenings during his tenure. The interview was conducted by Stephen J. Abramson.

Tonight, seven new inductees will be added to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Hall of Fame at a special ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel— actress Candice Bergen, art director Charles Lisanby, announcer Don Pardo, show creator-producer Gene Roddenberry (posthumously), performers Tom and Dick Smothers, and game show creator-producer Bob Stewart.

Television Academy Chairman-CEO John Shaffner notes: “Each year, the Television Academy has the privilege of honoring television greats that have contributed to the development and success of this ever-evolving medium.” “This year’s inductees have challenged and shaped popular culture, changed television for the better and entertained us royally while doing so. We are very pleased to be able to induct them into the Hall of Fame for their many achievements.”

The Archive of American Television has conducted interviews with several of the new inductees, click on the links below to view their interviews.